Colostrum is one of, if not the most critical thing for newborn calves. It lays the very foundation for their health and well-being throughout the remainder of their life. Through the dam, the calf takes in all the antibodies needed to fight off disease. But what if they are not able to get it from their mother?
Using a colostrum replacer or supplement can be a very confusing matter to figure out. There are many different choices to choose from, as well as different delivery styles. Ideally, every one of your new calves will get up and start nursing independently. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world.
There are some times that you will need to provide assistance to the newborn to get them on the right foot. This assistance can come in the form of delivering a colostrum replacer. No matter if it is natural or replacer, you only have a 4-hour window for it to be effective. If you find yourself in that situation, here are five tips that can help you get the most effective use out of it.
A new year is approaching for the cattle industry. Though we have had our issues this past year, like the current market, new opportunities are bound to return. It may not look like it, but there are always positives to be found if you know how to look, even in our yoyo industry.
With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, giving your cows their best chance going into winter is essential. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle. It also plays a part in keeping feed costs reasonable.
Colostrum is one of, if not the, most important thing for newborn calves. It lays the very foundation for their health and well-being throughout the remainder of their life. Through the dam, the calf takes in all of the antibodies it will need to fight off disease. But what if they are not able to get it from their mother?
A new year is approaching for the cattle industry. Though we have had our issues this past year, like the drought, new opportunities are bound to return. It may not look like it but there are always positives to be found if you know how to look, even in our yoyo industry.
With fall and cooler weather right around the corner, it is important to give your cows their best chance going into winter. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle. It also plays a part in keeping feed costs reasonable.
Having the right replacement heifers is important for the long-term profitability of any ranch. It is necessary to be able to rotate the breeding stock out to improve the overall genetic gene pool. Also, cows will get to a point where they will be too old to breed anymore and no longer be profitable. When this happens you will need to have new stock ready to take their place.
It is that time of year again: Spring Calving season. Calving season can be one of the busiest times of year for cattle producers. Along with being busy it is also one of the most important times of the year.
Nutrition management of your cow herd is very important during late pregnancy and early lactation. What happens during this time can not only affect your current calf crop but your future one as well. Having the cow’s nutrition needs met can reduce dystocia for the cow and improve the overall performance of the calf.
Knowing when to assist in calving can be a tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not reacting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance can require a lot of experience and maybe a little luck.
